General dentists’, pediatric dentists’, and endodontists’ diagnostic assessment and treatment strategies for deep carious lesions: A comparative analysis

Abstract

BackgroundThere is a large variation among clinicians when managing deep carious lesions (DCLs). The purpose of this study was to assess general dentists’ (GDs), pediatric dentists’ (PDs), and endodontists’ (EDs) diagnostic methods, clinical decision-making considerations, treatment strategies, and knowledge, behavior, and attitudes related to the diagnosis and treatment of DCLs. MethodsA total of 175 GDs, 511 PDs, and 377 EDs responded to a nationwide Web-based survey. ResultsMost EDs (68%) and GDs (47%) practiced complete caries removal. PDs (31%) were more likely than GDs (12%) and EDs (4%) to remove carious tissues partially. Dentin hardness was the most important diagnostic criterion used during caries excavation (GDs, 90%; PDs, 72%; EDs, 88%). Only 30% of GDs, 17% of PDs, and 90% of EDs used diagnostic tests (for example, a cold test) when assessing pupal health. A substantial percentage of respondents considered endodontic treatment as a choice for treating DCLs in asymptomatic teeth in young patients (GDs, 40%; PDs, 30%; EDs, 40%). GDs rarely used a rubber dam when treating these lesions. ConclusionsMost respondents practiced complete caries removal until hard dentin was felt, using hardness as the primary excavation criterion, and did not use pulp diagnostic tests routinely before making decisions about treatment of teeth with DCLs. Practical ImplicationsEfforts should be made to translate the growing body of evidence supporting the use of conservative caries removal criteria to preserve pulpal health and tooth structure integrity when managing DCLs.